Apparently, we’re going to see a massive increase in the use of AI agents in the next 1-3 years.

But we won’t.

When I read reports like this I’m always taken by the missing population; 99% of businesses in the UK are SMEs and this report fails them.

The sampling bias is towards large enterprises of >$1 billion annual revenue (for corporates), or $50 million public budget (for government). This isn’t a universal report.

I’m really pleased Coca-Cola investing $1.1bn in GenAI and cloud, that Klarna has AI agents handling 700 jobs and Airbus are integrating GenAI into complex manufacturing. But these are not transferrable to small firms managing cashflow, HR, customer acquisition, or compliance with a handful of staff and limited IT. SMEs need micro-use cases: customer email automation, content marketing assistance, bid writing support.

We have fragmented IT systems which rely on low cost and simple API and interfaces. We haven’t got the teams of people available to download out knowledge bases into agentic services. SMEs need to attempt frugal innovation and experimentation with context specific support. Lean and tactical advice for the win in SME world.

I ‘know’ that an influencer will put a brief outline of this report out and will get several thousand comments, likes and reposts. Spare a thought for the hundreds of thousands of people who won’t see it and, even if they did, would be meaningless to them.

Because they’re just getting the job done.